August William Ackerman

ACKERMAN, BECKER, HOLLENBECK, FAIRCHILD, WESTFALL, STEPHENSON, WILCOX, WILLARD

Posted By: David L. Skipton (email)
Date: 3/15/2009 at 16:41:23

Wapello Republican, October 12, 2000.

Gus Ackerman, 89, Columbus Junction, Iowa died Monday, October 2 at the Colonial Manor Care Center in Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Stacy-Lewis Funeral Home, Columbus Junction, is handling the local arrangements. A memorial has been established.

A Memorial Service and celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. October 21, 2000 at the
Solid Rock Baptist Church in Wapello. Ia.

August "Gus" William Ackerman was born June 13, 1911 in North Platte, NE to William and Katherine Becker Ackerman. Gus had been a carpenter most of his life in the North Platte area and later ran a dairy in California, He married Mary Eldora Hollenbeck who preceded him in death in Juloy 1971.

He married Agnes Fairchild who also preceded him in death in January 1993. After his marriage to Agness they lived in Lemoyne, NE.

Gus and Marilyn Westfall exchanged their vows June 20, 1994. Since then they lived principally in Zapata, TX until his worsening health brought them back to Columbus Junction for medical treatment this spring.

Gus loved music and started playing in his father's band when he was a teenager. He learned to play guitar, violin, banjo, and ukulele. Reportedly he could play anything with strings. He continued to play and had his own dance band for many years, and also sang with and led different church choirs throughout the years. Gus continued to sit in and play music with various groups until his health failed earlier this year. He was a champion horseshoe pitcher and had won a trophy.

Survivors include his children; Gerald Ackerman of LaGrange, CA; Barbara Stephenson of Rio Linda, CA; Ronald in Lemoyne, NE; Pat Wilcox of Carson City, NV; Robert Ackerman of Salines, CA; Marilyn Willard of Ogallala, NE; Bernard Ackerman of Salines, CA; Lawrence Ackerman of Poctello, ID; and Dennis Ackerman of Ogallala, NE. There are 35 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. Also serviving is a brother,
William of North Platte, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two wives and one son, and a brother, Clarence.
Ashes were taken to Nebraska for burial.